[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-2
Seasonal Record: 49-36 (3rd, 7.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Dode Caudill : 30 AB, 12 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .400 AVG, .938 OPS
Henry Watson : 26 AB, 9 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .346 AVG, .982 OPS
Jerry McMillan : 29 AB, 9 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .310 AVG, .895 OPS

Schedule
7-2: Win vs Stars (4-5): 10 innings
7-3: Win vs Stars (3-10)
7-4: Win vs Stars (5-6)
7-4: Loss vs Stars (2-5)
7-5: Win vs Saints (6-8)
7-6: Loss vs Saints (3-2)
7-7: Win vs Saints (3-4)

Recap
5 more wins! Our lucky number!

We lost a one-run game, one a few more, and finish the first half of the season 49-36, back in third place where we've sat more often then I've wanted. Of course, it's better then being below .500 and further down, but so often we are good, just not good enough, and 1963 seems like another one of those years. Kansas City holds a 7.5 game advantage over us, and they just look unstoppable.

KC led the Conti with five All-Star selections, though we were tied with the Cannons with four for second most. Henry Watson will start in right, receiving all but one of the right field votes, while stopper Pug White took the most votes among relievers. Our two most valuable players so far, both deserved to start, with Watson ranked 2nd among Continental players in WAR (4.7) and Pug the second half save (14) leader. Watson is on pace to set many personal bests, as the 2-Time All-Star is hitting an excellent .340/.379/.586 (156 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 6 triples, 18 homers, 64 RBIs, 50 runs, and 6 steals. He won't get much Whitney consideration, but the former 5th pick is on pace for a near 9 WAR season. A captain in the clubhouse, he's really emerged into a star player, and OSA declares him the top left fielder in baseball. Pug is only third for stoppers, but the 33-year-old vet is almost a qualified pitcher. With 83.1 innings in 40 games, he's been dominant nearly all season long. The 3-Time All-Star enters the break 8-3 with a 2.48 ERA (166 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, and 58 strikeouts. The only pitcher representing us, I'd almost prefer him to get the three days off, but just an inning shouldn't be an issue for our ironman stopper.

Gene Case and Jack Gibson will join them, as while both were certainly good enough to earn the start, there were just elite players at their positions. For Case it's back-to-back selections, as our star first basemen has completely erased his 63 WRC+ April. Now up to 147, Case is hitting .288/.380/.534 (143 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 3 triples, 17 homers, 54 RBIs, 54 runs, and 9 steals. 25 last month, Dixie has upped his eye to a 5, even with a career low 13.1 BB% and career high 10.6 K%. His speed and power mix continues to be lethal, and if it wasn't for Hank Williams (.362, 23, 77), Case would have been the starter. For Gibson, it's because of Heinie Spitler (.386, 5, 52, 9), though missing a few weeks didn't help his case either. Hitting his 20th homer this week, Gibson has slashed .280/.311/.601 (139 OPS+) in 58 games. If he can stay healthy, 30 homers is a lock, and I can see him pushing 40 if we can get him into 120 games. It'll be tough, but if he's healthy he could capture the home run title.

Our biggest snub has to be Ken Stone, who certainly deserved to join his teammates in Minneapolis. All the 23-year-old has done is go 10-2 with a 2.75 ERA (150 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts, picking up a win or quality start in all but 2 of his 15 outings. That 2.75 ERA ranks 3rd in the Continental while he's tied for 2nd in wins, but I guess that wasn't enough to impress the league. Other deserving candidates include Don Griffin (6-3, 3.31, 49), Earle Turner (1-3, 1, 1.41, 30), Bob Allen (2-2, 2, 2.70, 29), and Dode Caudill (.289, 11, 36, 9), but there aren't enough pitching spots and there's just too many good outfielders out there. Even Tom Halliday (.258, 5, 33, 2) has a case at short, but the CA decided to go just with the deserved starter Carlos Jaramillo (.277, 4, 33, 19).

Joining us after the break will be Cal Randall, who last played on June 16th where he strained his Achilles. Already off to a slow start, he'll return with a .238/.268/.330 (60 OPS+) batting line, but his clubhouse presence and defensive ability have been as advertised. Mooney Vetter will go down, as the 28-year-old was just 1-for-23 with a -87 WRC+ with five strikeouts. I was really hoping last year's third basemen would have more success, but in June before his promotion he was hitting just .245/.259/.377 (77 OPS+), nothing near his Player of the Month performance.

Looking Ahead
Just three off days for the break, and with a double header on Sunday we'll still play five games. I'd love a 5-0, but we'll be on the road before a big home series. Our first three games come in Cincinnati, where we'll face the 47-42 Cannons. They sent their entire outfield to the All-Star game, as Dallas Berry (.290, 20, 70, 7) will make his 8th trip with Joe Case (.316, 14, 41, 8) and Bonnie Chapin (.330, 17, 59) making their first trips. For Chapin, it's way overdo, as he's never had WRC+ below 142 and won the batting title in 1961. Not many career .333/.413/.550 (153 OPS+) hitters have only one appearance, but their is no shortage of elite offensive talent on the grass. Not appearing at the game is ace Charlie Warren (8-4, 3.35, 91), so him and Doc will square off in the opener. After that, it looks like Jack Meeks (4-9, 4.86, 86) and Jim York (4-7, 3.70, 68), as both teams should be using their top three.

The double header won't have our 4 and 5, as it will be Hank Walker (7-2, 3.79, 54) and John Mitchell (3-1, 3.38, 22), with Dick Champ (4-9, 4.93, 63) penciled in for the finale in Toronto. They start the second half with a double header hosting the Kings, so we could luck out with either tired pitchers or spot starters. Toronto's pitching has struggled, with Arnie Smith (7-4, 4.83, 72) not looking like the ace he is. First-time All-Star Phil Colantuono (9-5, 2.60, 78) has had to carry most of the weight, but I think we'll miss him and Bill Medley (9-7, 3.78, 74). Then we have to keep them in the park, as despite playing at Dominion Stadium the Wolves are 2nd in longballs. Chick Reed's (.315, 23, 55) breakout is a big part, as the slugger is recently coming off a 3-homer game, and another one of the surprise All-Star omissions. Ed Savage (.320, 13, 49) dealt with the same fate, as both have been lethal at the plate and have nothing to show for it. Almost anyone in the lineup can go yard, but we're the better team, and we should be winning this series.

Minor League Report
LHP Jim Place (C La Crosse Lions): Last year's 2nd Rounder started the season in San Jose, but he looked completely overmatched in his three starts, and he quickly retreated back to La Crosse. The ace of the Lions last year, this season he's pitching behind Hub Russell (W, 7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K) and Johnny Kern (7,2 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K), and was the starter in the finale of our opening week series. Scoring the only run of the game, Place didn't get much support, but the young lefty kept Waterloo scoreless in a 1-0 shutout. Scattering 8 hits and 4 walks, Place struck out 2, as his Lions held their hosts to just seven runs in three games. Temporarily bumped out of the top-100, he regained his place in the bottom half, checking in at 5th in our system and 86th overall. A 7-pitch pitcher, the stuff has really come in, as Dixie is willing to declare him a current starter. He gave him a very favorable report, boosting the velo to 92-94 and his control to 2. Now a 3-2-2, he's got 3 rated pitches and a 4-rrated screwball, and Dixie believes he can fit comfortably in the middle of a FABL rotation. I'm liking the sounds of that, and if he can put together a few more starts like this, I'll give him another go at UMVA hitting.